But Kevin Wilkinson, senior vice-president of HR for Atos UK, told the panel that the training department was unaffected at that time. He said Smith’s selection for redundancy some months later was “correct, fair and appropriate”.

Her role was made redundant in early 2007 as the company no longer required it, he said.

Wilkinson denied Smith’s claim that she was told a similar role had been filled internally and so was not available.

Smith has yet to give evidence at the central London hearing, which is expected to conclude later this week. An age discrimination claim was dropped before the hearing began.